Switch-operating mechanism.



H. C. BROWN.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2Z| 1912.

1 1|. 61,605. A Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

l SAE UQ.

HENRY C. BROWN, 01? FORT SMITH, ARZKANSAS.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed. August 22, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY 0. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 214 South Twelfth street, Fort Smith, in the county of Sebastian, State of Arkansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to railway switches and more particularly to switch point operating mechanisms.

An object of the invention is to provide means for throwing the switch point as the car approaches the switch, by simply depressing the rod or throwing a'lever carried upon said car.

Another object is to provide a pivoted bar connected at one end to the switch point moving arm and carrying a pin upon its opposite end adapted to be moved to opposite ends of a guide slot by means of an actuator carried by the car to properly move the switch point for opening or closing the switch.

Another object is to provide a switch operating mechanism of the above stated character with means on either side of the pin for properly guiding the actuator, the pin and guiding means on either side thereof being secured in normal position in such. manner that they may be readily forced downwardly against the tension of suitable springs upon the movement thereover of wheels or the like to prevent the pin and guiding means from becomingbroken off and thus rendering the mechanism inoperative.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of this character for operatinga switch point, with suitable means for inclosing and protecting the movable parts;

With the above and other obiects in view,

my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of my device and then-specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to andfor'm a part of this application.

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a side elevation showinga portion ofa car carrying the controlling mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view the switch operating nieehanism,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1215.

Serial No. 716,467.

parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the main portion of the casing and through the pivoted bar and parts con nected therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of my invention, part being broken away. Referring more specifically to the drawlngs, in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, 10 designates in general the casing provided for the switch point operating mechanism, which casing is adapted to be positioned between the rails of the track, as'clearly shown in the drawings.

The casing 10 is formed in three parts, a main or longitudinal portion 11, a transverse portion 12 at one end of the longitudinal sitioned a switch point moving arm 14, one 1 end of which is connected with the switch point 15, while the opposite end of said rod is secured to the ear 16 upon one end of the pivoted rod 17 within the casing 10, the rod 14 being reciprocated by the pivoted rod 17. as will be later fully described.

The pivoted rod 17is pivoted upon the floor 18 of the casing 10 near the center of the longitudinal portion 11 of said casing and has its second end 19 curved upwardly and then horizontally and thus of]? set'from the main portion of said rod, the end 19 extending over the front wall of the portion 12 of the casing and into said portion .12 and provided with a suitable opening through which the central pin 20 is positioned.

The pin 20 is carried in the rectangular housing 21, the upper end of which is'secured over the end 19. of the rod 17 the lower end of said pin-projecting through the opposite end of said housing and having a cotter pin 22 or the like passed there through to prevent accidental withdrawal of the pin 20. A suitable spring 23 is'positioned around the pin 20 within the housing 21. and secured to the pin in such manner that the head 24: of said pin is normally held a spaced distance above the top plate 25 through which plate 25 is positioned the swinging the pivoted rod 17 upon elongated opening 26 to accommodate the.

pin 20 and permit of limited movement of said pin in opposite directions for properly pin 17 for throwing the switch point 15.

Oneither side ofthe pin housing2l are similar housings 27 which have their upper 1 ends rigidly secured to the under face of the plate 25, Guide pins 28 are passed through the plate and through the lower ends of the housings 27, said pins 28 having means upon their lower ends for limiting the u per movement of said pins While springs 29 are secured upon the pins 28 within said housing 27 to normally hold the pins in theirupper positions with the heads 30 thereof spaced above the plate 25 and substantially in the same plane as the head 24 of the pin 20'. It will be seen however, that the pins 28 are sim ly capable of vertical movement while the central pin 20 has a vertical movement'and a horizontal move me t The central pin 20 moves horizontally tofthrow the switch point 15 as the actuator 31 moves between the pin 20 and one of'the side guide pins 28, as will be later fully described. The'pi'n's 20"and 28 readily move downwardly against the ten' sionfo'ftheirsprings23 and 29 respectively uponthe engagement of a vehicle wheel or the "lil'r eupon the headset-said pins, thus eliminating danger of bending the pins or breaking off the heads thereof:

The actuator is pr ferably formed with a'pointed forward end 82 and i dapted for movement between the central pin and one-guide pin 28 'to force said pins 20 towardthe'opposite pin 28 and thus properly throw the switch point 15 to open" or close the switch'as'desired as the ear approaches the same, it being understood that the actuater'31 is swung to o'ne'iside to engagement between the pin 20 and the proper guide 11128. To the upperflat face ofthe actuator 31 i seouredthe lower end "of the arm 33' which is universally swiveled intermediate its ends, as shown'at 34 and has secured 7 to its free end'one of the series of lever arms arin'33isf extended'forwardly 6 5 returning the rod 36'to u per position and thus allowing the actuator '31 t dly o 1 is -removed from thefro'd 36; I,

' flo provides means for:positioning the aetuator'el at either side ofthefpin 24,; the bifurcated seat 38 and between the "repetitions "thus ove upits p1vot f the way when "the pressure,

formed is positioned the lower end of a lever 36 which is pivoted at 36 so as to swing transversely of the track and thus swing the actuator 31 transversely.

The casing 10 is provided with flanges 10 directed outwardly from its lower edge to assist in anchoring the casing between the track rails and a suitable cover 10" is properly secured upon the casing to protect the movable parts of'the switch operating mechanism within said casing.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a rectangular casing 38 within which is positioned for longitudinal movement, the rod 39, one end of which projects through the end of the casing andis connected with the switch point 40, while the opposite end is connected with the lower end of the central pin 41 or actua'ting pin. rod 39' is divided adjacent the inner end to provide the longitudinal elongated slot 42 to receive the forward pin 43 and its housing and thus permit proper longitudinal movement of said rod 39. It will also be understood that the forward pin 43, rear pin 43 and central or actuating pin 41 are provided with suitable housings and springs for resiliently retaining said pins in their uppermost positions as described and shown in the preferred form. The actuator 31 engages against the opposite sides of the central or actuating pin 41 between the pins 43 and saidpin 41 to open and close the switch, the same as in the preferred form of the device. It'w'ill be seen, however, that in this modifi'e'd form, the actuating pin or central pin 41 is connected directly to the rod 39 projecting through the casing 38 and connected with theswitch point 40, thus greatly reducing the number of parts. The movable parts are protected from dirt and other foreign matter by means of the cover 44 upon the top of the; casing 38.

WhileI have shown the preferred forms of my invention it will be understood that minor changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without in the least dcparting from the spirit of my invention.

What 'I claim is 1. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with a casing of a pair of vertically movable pins projecting therefrom and resiliently urged upward a vertically and horizontally movable pin disposed between said first pins and resiliently urged upward, means connecting said last pin with a switch point and means for engaging said pin and movin ithoriz'ontally. 4,

' 2.'I n a switch operating mechanism, the

combination with a casing of a pair of sub- It will be understood that the pin reciprocal between said first pins, means connecting said last pin with a switch point and means for engaging said pin and moving it horizontally.

3. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with a casing of a pair ofvertically movable pins projecting therefrom and resiliently urged upward, a slot in the casing between said pins, a rectangular frame in the casing, a pin slidably passed through the slot and through the frame, a switch opcrating rod slidably secured to the pin within the frame, a spring secured to the pin and bearing against the frame and means for moving said pin laterally in the slot.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY 0. BROWN Witnesses:

J. A. MILLER, G. T. TAYLOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

